Frequently asked questions
Can't find your answer? Check the docs or open a GitHub issue.
Is ɳChat really free to self-host?
Yes. The ɳChat client repo and the 29 free ɳSelf plugins are MIT licensed. You can self-host on any server without a license key and with no usage fees.
What do I get with the ɳChat Bundle?
The ɳChat Bundle ($0.99/mo) adds 8 paid plugins: chat-pro, livekit (HD video/audio), recording, moderation, bots, realtime-pro, community, and auth-pro. The free tier runs the core 29 plugins without a key.
Is it per-seat or per-server?
Per key, not per seat. One key works on any number of servers and supports any number of users. There are no per-user fees.
What happens if I cancel my bundle subscription?
The paid plugins go dormant on the next nself build. Your data stays on your server — nothing is deleted. The free tier remains fully functional.
Can I try before buying?
The full client is open source — clone the repo and spin it up in minutes. The paid plugins have a 7-day grace period on first install so you can evaluate them.
How do I upgrade from the free tier to the bundle?
Get a bundle key at nself.org/pricing, then run: nself license set <key> && nself plugin install chat livekit moderation bots && nself build
What is ɳSelf+?
ɳSelf+ ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) includes all 6 product bundles — ɳChat, ɳClaw, ɳFamily, ɳTV, ɳSentry, and ClawDE — with a single key. Best value if you use more than two products.
Does ɳChat work without a domain?
Yes, for local or LAN use. Point the client at your server IP. For external access, TLS (and therefore a domain) is strongly recommended.
Where is my data stored?
All data lives in the PostgreSQL database and MinIO object store on your server. No data is sent to nSelf servers unless you enable optional telemetry.
Is there a hosted (cloud) version?
The ɳChat SaaS lives at chat.nself.org. It uses the same open-source codebase, hosted on nSelf Cloud infrastructure. The self-hosted version and the SaaS are feature-identical.
Does ɳChat support mobile?
Yes. The React Native mobile app is in the nchat repo under mobile/. iOS and Android. Desktop (macOS/Windows/Linux) is the Tauri 2 wrapper under desktop/.
Where can I get help?
File an issue on GitHub, check the docs at docs.nself.org, or join the ɳSelf community chat.
Ready to self-host?
The client is free forever. Add the bundle for $0.99/mo when you need video, bots, or moderation.